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Sundown at the lake


Sundown at the lake
Photo Information
Copyright: Valerie FOSSE (valy67) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1727 W: 59 N: 3060] (9219)
Genre: Landscapes
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-01-11
Categories: River
Camera: Canon 350D, Canon EF 18mm-55mm f/3.5 - f/5.6
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Dreamy Landscapes [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2009-01-12 0:39
Viewed: 4059
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 63
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Yesterday, on Sunday, we had the most beautiful weather. As it was freezing cold, last Monday's snwo was still covering the landscapes, but the sun was shining and the sky was clear blue. The snow was glittering as if covered with thousands of tiny diamonds. I went out so the lake with some friends, not really expecting to make any good picture for TN, as there are always so many people walking around the lake on Sundays - so busy that all the animals run away.

But then it became late, and the sun was going down towards the horizon, slowly. When we arrived at the little bridge where I stood to take this picture, the whole sky was orange and yellow. I had to struggle with people to gt some place to take this picture.

This picture shows the most interesting place of my lake. You can see the river, here. It is running through forest and countryside, then, here, it throws itself in the lake, just after the trees you see on the picture. It is the "wildest" part of the lake, the marshy and muddy place where you can find most animals - mallards, swans, coypus, but also damsel- and dragonflies, frogs, little birds, insects of all kind, butterflies... Really a wonderful place.

On the picture, you can see a large group of mallards in the evening light. They were quite noisy. But there is also one swan, in the back, and somewhere there ought to be a coypu, also - they were swimming around with the ducks, but on this picture I cannot tell where they are.

You can also notice that the border of the river is frozen, but not in the middle, due to the current. But the rest of the lake is deep frozen too, I could walk on the ice, it is the first time this happens in my llife. usually the ice is so thin it breaks when I put one foot on it, but this year I could walk on it. I didn't dare to go far (1 meter only) but it was a great experience ! :-)

I brought back this picture, and I wanted to share it with you because it is a very special place to me. Many many of my pictures have been taken here, its the only place I know where there is ALWAYS something interesting for a nature photographer. Spring, summer, autumn and winter, I am never disappointed. So here it is, probably my favourite place on earth...
ramthakur, mohaiminawang, eng55, Heaven, oanaotilia, iris, boreocypriensis, jusninasirun, Alex99, ferranjlloret, haraprasan, nglen, Noisette, CeltickRanger, Argus, zulfu, SunToucher, maurydv, bahadir, horia, xTauruSx, peter_stoeckl has marked this note useful
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ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To horia: More picturesvaly67 1 01-16 01:47
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Critiques [Translate]

This sepia tinged picture of your favourite place on a winter evening is a work of art, Valerie.
The objects within the frame including the birds all combine together to create an ambience which is full of life even on a frozen January day.
As you rightly said, this place would always be alive -- no matter what the season.
Your note conveys your feelings and emotions associated with this place with intense sincerity.
Thanks and don't walk on the ice at all even if it is quite firm.
Ram

Hi Valerie,

Nice to see your favourite place. Beautiful lake busy with animal in sunset.Nice tree and water edge create a space for them.Great colour and POV.TFS.

regards
mohaimin

  • Great 
  • eng55 Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1256 W: 42 N: 1976] (5892)
  • [2009-01-12 2:01]

Hi Valerie,
Very beautiful landscape.I liked POV,warm lighting,DOF,framing and composition a lot.
Excellent work!
Thanks for posting.

Un bon WE je vois Valérie !
Une belle image toute simple, toute en douceur
Bravo
Patrick

Bonjour Valérie!

Merci de partager cette magnifique image avec nous. Et surtout félicitations, car elle est vraiment superbe. J'aime beaucoup cette dualité: d'un côté, ton image transmet la froideur hivernale, de l'autre côté les couleurs du soir sont douces et chaudes. En plus, l'ambience et la paix qui se dégagent de cette image la rendent encore plus précieuse.

Amitiés

Markus

  • Great 
  • iris Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 479 W: 60 N: 970] (3088)
  • [2009-01-12 4:26]

What a wonderful image Valerie..how wonderful would you have felt standing there in the wildest part of the lake ...taking in the beautiful sun and the bronze cast it gave earth and life all around!...And through your composition you transfer all your thoughts and feeling at that point of time...the scene becomes special for the numerous number of ducks, swans and wonderful other little beings silhouteed and presented in the compsoition.A very original and extremely creative composition with fantastic PoV.
Thanks much for sharing ,
Cheers
Silpa

Hi Valerie,
it's a vision so unreal.. so striking and moodly this reflection.. what a beauty!! Amazing river and mountains, wonderful landscape. Beautiful light, shadow and colours. Marvellous silhouettes and graphism indeed.
TFS this fine sunset capture my friend!
Cheers,

Bayram

Hi Valérie,

Excellent choice of tall frame in capturing this stunning sunset. The swimming ducks are so sharp and in compromising harmony with the sunset mood. The ambiance and glow are perfectly controlled with the depth and sharpness so flawless. I like this one and very well done indeed.

Please allow me to add this to my theme and my favorite list.
Regards,
Jusni

hello Valerie
great picture
the composition with the ducks and birds are very good
nice soft colours
greeting lou

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4072 W: 133 N: 7096] (23735)
  • [2009-01-12 6:48]

Hi Valerie.
Colouration of the shot is key point of this nice picture. However, selected POV is superb too. I like water way through the trees, attractive dots of different birds, wonderful details of the whole scene. The picture has own soul and I feel it very well. My kind wishes and compliments.
Alexei.

beautiful capture , perfect sunset light , very nice colours and sharp ,
great composition,
septimiu

Bonsoir Valerie,
Un paysage admirable. Une photographie très artistique.
Merci de partager l'image. Salutations.
Ferran

Hi Valerie,
HAPPY NEW YEAR. A nice capture of this beautiful scenery. Very well composed with lovely colors. Thanks a lot for sharing.

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2883 W: 30 N: 9683] (36145)
  • [2009-01-12 12:58]

Hi Valerie. I like the colours in this picture of the lake, late in the day. From your notes it sounds as if it was a beautiful day with the weather. The water has a mass of ducks taking in some last food for the day . You get the fealing the day will soon be over. well taken TFS.
Nick..

Ciao Valeria, fascinating landscape with fantastic golden colors, great composition, very well done, ciao Silvio

salut Val
Superbe photo de "notre" endroit préférée, tu as très bien saisie les couleurs du soleil couchant. Très belle ambiance qui reflète le calme et la tranquilité (malgré le cancanement des canards)
passe une bonne nuit
Jacqueline

Hello Valerie

This is a lovely and artistic appearing image.
The tones and hues have almost a sepia look and creates a timeless feeling.
Excellent POV and composition.
Very good detail.
TFS

Wolf

bonjour Valerie

une très belle photographie avec cette lumière et couleurs de fin de journée,
prise avec un excellent POV, cadrage vertical appropré
qui donne un excellent DOF, j'aimes les silhouettes noirs de canrds et cie,

TFS

Asbed

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5038 W: 260 N: 15594] (50626)
  • [2009-01-12 21:52]

Hello Valérie,
An amazing use of the winter light early evening/late afternoon.
The composition of the trees, the lake and the silhoutted waterfowl is beautiful in itself but the colours of the lake and sky add a dimension that makes one want to look at the image for a long time.
Very beautiful Valérie!
Well done and thanks for delighting us with this!
Ivan

  • Great 
  • zulfu Gold Star Critiquer [C: 685 W: 0 N: 2] (43)
  • [2009-01-13 10:45]

Hello Valerie. Splendid scen shot of wonderful lighting and composition.
TFS & G's,
Mehmet

Hi Valerie,
I see its been a real winter all over Europe. This pretty much looks like the kind of weather we had for the past couple weeks.
I love how you used to light to transfer this cold scenery to such a wonderful place of warmth. The birds in the FG lead the eye pefectly to the gap between the trees and onward of the frozen lake to the fading mountains. This certainly is a place that can inspire you to creativity.
TFS,
Niek.

Ciao Valerie,
bellissima immagine dall'atmosfera poetica, eccellente composizione verticale che accompagna lo sguardo verso il cielo e libera la fantasia nello spazio dopo aver ammirato i bellissimi movimenti creati dalla disposizione sparsa degli uccelli, le cui silhouettes sono accarezzate dalla luce calda del sole basso.
TFS.
Maurizio

wonderful landscape shot Valerie. Colours and composition are great. TFS.
Bahadır

  • Great 
  • horia Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2158 W: 224 N: 4749] (16656)
  • [2009-01-16 1:03]
  • [+]

Hi Valerie

I know this feeling - we had the same weather a few days ago: sunny all day but just when i was ready to go shoot some sunsets, i saw a thick haze and some clouds gathering on the horizon and it made all the fun stop :((
Nevertheless, you managed a very beautiful photo here.
I like the landscape look of this scene only it's hard to actually consider it a landscape with all those birds there :)
It looks like a splendid place and i'd love to see some more picture from there - close-ups on the birds or some nice evening shots, as well.
Here, i really like your composition, with the vertical trees bordering the scene well but also the gorgeous perspective - with those layers of forests visible in the distance.
Wonderful work!

Bravo and TFS
Horia

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1772 W: 36 N: 5597] (18598)
  • [2009-01-17 19:01]

Hi Valerie,
Outstanding shot and you have captured the sunset colours, mood and beauty at its best. Looks so pleasing and beautiful. The Mallards are no doubt enjoying every bit of this lake. Very neat and sharp image with colours and perfect illumination.
TFS.
Sumon

Great landscape shot Valerie. wonderful colours and composition.
TFS.
Deniz

Guten Abend Valerie,
zauberhaft weiche Abendstimmung am halb gefrorenen Fluss, ein seltenes Ereignis nach den vielen milden Wintern der vergangenen Jahre. Habe heuer erstmals seit vielen Jahren wieder meine Eislaufschuhe auspacken können, um auf den Natureisflächen zugefrorener Teiche mein Glück zu versuchen.
Ich schätze die kostbaren Sepiatöne dieser klassisch anmutenden herrlichen Winterlandschaft.
Mit Dank und herzlichen Grüßen,
Peter

ciao Valerie1
golden water at sunset ... really a striking image with the silhoutte of the many birds

best sERGIO

Hello Valerie,
this is a very beautiful picture! Your favourite place on this lake is wonderful! I like fact that there are many birds, animals and insects on this place. And I like composition, pastel colours, warm light and fine BG.
Best regards, Leonid

  • Great 
  • foozi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2791 W: 0 N: 6696] (25839)
  • [2009-02-16 4:26]

Hi Valerie,
a very lovely and pleasant beauty of this scenery. Well laid perspective and excellent pestel rendition giving a special and effective mood.

Regards,
Foozi

Bello e ingenioso trabajo con la luz y los colores. Creas un ambiente maravilloso, una mezcla de romanticismo-retro-realismo que hacen que sea una imagen especial.
Buen trabajo.
Saludos: Josep Ignasi.

hello Valérie,

J'aime beaucoup l'ambiance globale de cette image. Sur un plan technique, cependant, la surex en haut me gêne car les branches du haut perdent tous leurs détails.
TFS

Serge

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